Burial Rites in Bound Together

Aug 29, 2013 Chrissie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audible-us, favorites, hf, mystery, iceland, love, 2013-read

I cannot write a review that can do this book justice. This is what goes through my head:

* I am so happy I give few books five stars, because then when I run into a book this good my five star rating means something!

* You need a strong stomach for this book. I have warned you.

* Once you start you will not be able to read or do anything else.

* There is NO humor in this book. I always need humor, except NOT here. Don't ask me why! I just didn't need it. I was riveted from start to finish. I neede ...more

610 likes · Like · see review

Jul 04, 2017 PattyMacDotComma rated it it was amazing

Shelves: kindle, australian-author, award-win-listed, historical-fiction, aa, favourites-adult

Latest news I've seen - Feb 2018 https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/5...

Another UPDATE Iceland is revisiting the circumstances of the trial. Fascinating stuff! Have a look.
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news...

UPDATE On 16 August 2017, the author added a video about the book to her website: http://hannahkentauthor.com/
The video itself is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpyAo...

5★+

“Rósa’s poetry kindled the shavings of my soul, and lit me up from within.”

Hannah Kent writes about a dark, ...more

105 likes · Like · see review

Jul 23, 2013 ☮Karen rated it really liked it

This story will probably haunt me for days to come, and already is. After reading some particularly bleak (good word, Penny) passages last night before bed, I awoke from a nightmare with the hairs on my arms and legs standing on end. Thankfully I've forgotten the nightmare, but I won't forget the way it or this book made me feel. ...more

8 likes · Like · see review

Sep 21, 2013 Esther rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, author-female, __given-away, 19th-century, zz-2016, scandinavia, for-mother, gr-choice-award, world

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. In some ways this is an amazing novel. The writing is beautiful without being self-conscious and the author's research is subtly introduced throughout the narrative.
Within a few pages you find yourself back in 19th century Iceland, a beautiful but harrowing place to live, where even moderately successful farmers can starve in winter and everyone but the most privileged are struggling to survive.
It is Dickens set in a chilly wasteland. A place of poverty and hunger, childbirth and death and a In some ways this is an amazing novel. The writing is beautiful without being self-conscious and the author's research is subtly introduced throughout the narrative.
Within a few pages you find yourself back in 19th century Iceland, a beautiful but harrowing place to live, where even moderately successful farmers can starve in winter and everyone but the most privileged are struggling to survive.
It is Dickens set in a chilly wasteland. A place of poverty and hunger, childbirth and death and a pervasive misogyny that is prejudiced against 'uppity women who are too clever for their own good and don't know their place'.

I loved the evocation of living within the confines of the badstofas and was shocked by the accepted violence of uncontrollable young men slaughtering sheep for pleasure.
While I relished every word I was dismayed by the narrow, restricted world in which the characters lived, and I thanked goodness for when and where I was born.

The writing in this book is so beautifully crafted I would gladly recommend it to anyone however the development of the story and of Agnes' character led me to class it as only a 4 star read.
Agnes is shown to us as clever and resourceful which for many is part and parcel of her guilt “They see I’ve got a head on my shoulders, and believe a thinking woman cannot be trusted.”
But when she meets Nathan she is unguarded and imprudent. It is not as if she hears and then disregards her friends' warnings about Nathan but as if she doesn't even hear them at all.

From Agnes’ previous remarks it is obvious she is well acquainted with the way men abuse the vulnerability of women...
“Has Steina ever had to decide whether to let a farmer up under her skirts and face the wrath of his wife... or to deny him and find herself homeless in the snow and fog with all the doors barred against her?"
But although I can explain to myself why she might forget all this for a charismatic man the story does not manage to convince me that this is true.
Agnes seems to have been uncharacteristically blind and unaware and then instead of being angry she is hurt and resentful.

The narrative does do a good job of convincing us that Nathan is a callous and manipulative person, and that could have led to a more nuanced, ambiguous characterization for Agnes.
“To know what a person has done, and to know who a person is, are very different things,” seems to suggest she has done something that requires understanding. However the story takes the easy path and we discover that Agnes is in fact innocent.

The violence of the murder would suggest tortured passion and revenge but the story gives us hopelessness and inevitability. ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

May 21, 2014 Irene rated it really liked it

Agnes, a 34 year old housemaid, is convicted, along with two accomplices, of murdering her employer and his house guest, then burning the farm to the ground. As she awaits execution, she is sent to live on the farm of an insignificant government servant. Initially greeted with loathing and fear, her broken presence and the gradual unfolding of her story shifts their attitude toward her. This is a beautiful narrative of the impact people have on each other. Although the reader was treated to powe ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Sep 02, 2013 Wendy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2014-reads, book-club

This is our neighborhood book choice for March!! I really loved this book! The descriptions of the desolate landscape and harsh winters and grueling work made me feel like I was there in Iceland. Hauntingly lyrical, Hannah Kent writes beautifully. The story was grim, stark, lonely, but so real and eloquent. The character descriptions made them come alive in my mind - Agnes's story was beautifully told. Loved Reverend Toti and Margret. An amazing debut novel by a very talented new author!! ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Oct 26, 2013 Rachel rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, fiction

While reading this I thought, hey Hannah Kent and Geraldine Brooks would make really good friends, having recently read Year of Wonders. Then I looked at the cover and saw that Brooks had blurbed it with praise. And then in the back of the book Kent thanks Brooks for her mentorship and advice. So a little too similar to Brooks's writing style, but still a decent read on its own. I will be interested to read what she comes up with next. ...more

1 like · Like · see review